Sophomore Ednah Kurgat of Liberty University’s track and field team successfully advanced to her first NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships qualification thanks to a runner-up finish in her heat in the women’s 5K on a windy Saturday at North Florida’s Hodges Stadium.
Kurgat’s time of 16:12.71 put her just behind heat winner Regan Rome of William & Mary, who crossed the finish line in 16:12.41. Most importantly, it made Kurgat — a native of Eldoret, Kenya — one of five automatic qualifiers to Eugene from her heat.
Kurgat joins Heather Sagan (2001-02) as the only Lady Flame to advance to the NCAA Division I national championship meets in women’s cross country, indoor track & field, and outdoor track & field during the same athletic year. Kurgat will try to become the first Lady Flame ever to earn All-America honors in all three sports in the same year, after placing 12th in cross country and ninth in the indoor 5K final.
Kurgat’s 5K at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships will be contested at 8:25 p.m. Eastern on June 11 at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore. The race will be televised live on ESPN.